Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock and 7 more celebrities who chose to become a single parent through adoption or surrogacy
Charlize Theron, Ricky Martin and Lucy Liu also among the A-listers who raised loving, well-mannered and happy kids on their own – despite often facing struggles and criticism from the press and public
For most, the dream is to become a parent after marrying a soul mate; for many the reality is continuing to raise a child after the relationship bites the dust. However, there are some who follow their parental instincts solo and become a single parent by choice via adoption or surrogacy – like these 10 celebrities.
Charlize Theron
The South African actress became a single parent to two African-American children: Jackson in 2012 and August in 2015. Last year, she revealed that Jackson is a transgender girl, telling the Daily Mail, “Yes, I thought she was a boy, too. Until she looked at me when she was three years old and said: 'I am not a boy!’”
Sushmita Sen
Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen defied the Asian norms when she adopted her two angels, Renee and Alisah, at the age of 24. Calling it the wisest decision of her life, Sen was grateful she didn’t “ignore the calling and delayed motherhood process”.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie adopted her first son Maddox from Cambodia in 2002, then later Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005 and Pax from Vietnam in 2007. She later had three biological children with Brad Pitt – Shiloh and twins Vivienne and Knox.
Jolie’s life dramatically changed after having a family – balancing responsibilities as the UN’s goodwill ambassador, a film director and a cool stay-at-home mum with her six children.
Karan Johar
In his autobiography An Unsuitable Boy, the Bollywood filmmaker revealed that he wanted to become a parent as “he has plenty of love to offer”. With the help of surrogacy, Johar became a father to twins Roohi and Yash in 2017, calling it a “well-thought decision”.
Madonna
Accused of bending the law and other tabloid malarkey, Madonna faced storms when adopting baby David Banda in 2006 and Mercy James in 2009 from Malawi. Recalling it “a real low point in my life”, the happy mum now divides her time between the US, UK and Portugal, also with her younger twins Esther and Stella Mwale, adopted in 2017.
Sandra Bullock
After ending her marriage to TV host Jesse James, who was caught in a cheating scandal, Bullock found purpose as a parent after seeing baby Louis whom she adopted in 2010, saying “It just fit, and I never had another moment of worry again”. She adopted a baby girl Laila in 2015.
Sheryl Crow
Similar to Bullock, country-pop singer Sheryl Crow faced battles before starting her own family. After splitting with cyclist Lance Armstrong and being diagnosed with breast cancer, Crow knew she wanted to start a family. In 2007, she adopted Wyatt Steven Crow and then Levi James Crow in 2010 – then aged 48.
Tusshar Kapoor
After turning 35, Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor gave in to his paternal instinct and decided “not to withhold fatherhood any longer”, welcoming son Laksshya via surrogacy in 2016.
Lucy Liu
At the age of 46, the Kill Bill actress welcomed Rockwell Lloyd Liu via surrogacy. Despite a negative backlash, Liu defended her decision on surrogacy saying, “I think it’s really important that people also embrace that it’s not about those details, it’s about how you carry on from the point of having your child and loving your family.”
Ricky Martin
View this post on InstagramLa dueña de mis sueños. #BabyLucia
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Before marrying his husband Jwan Yosef in 2018, the LGBTQ+ icon was a single parent to twins Matteo and Valentino, born via surrogacy in 2008. Martin took a career hiatus to raise them.